BUTTERFLY'S(where are they)

SKIPPY54

Is it just me or have all the Butterfly's vanished?
I only think I have seen two or three this year,I know the weather was bad last year but late on in the year my budlighas had quite a lot on,so they should have bred.
Could we have reports from around the country please.

Ice_2

NORTH YORKSHIRE had loads last year near the back end though when my budlias flowers although I have an orange ball one as well that flower later in the year just for the butterflies thats why it was planted but have only seen afew white ones about so far this year wait til the buds are in flower then we should see some...:j

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I had a butterfly yesterday,the first one I've seen this year.I live on the NE coast by the way.It was one of those orange and black ones,quite big and very beautiful.
I have had a lot of wasps coming into the house which seem to be huge in size compared to what we normally have and very early for the time of year.

JWF

We're on the north kent coast and we have had loads of little brown butterflies, larger brown ones that look like red admirals and hundreds of small blue ones.

*MF*

Scotland ... on the west coast.

Saw a few white butterflies mid - May, but very few since.

And per another thread - I am still waiting to see more than one bee a day.

Davesnave

Never seen small blue ones till this year in North Somerset. Not many of the usual Peacocks about though. Went on a visit to a South Somerset nature reserve & saw quite a few, including Small Blue, Orange Tip and some Fritillaries (I think!) Bees? plenty of bumbles, not many hive-type bees, but then I'm in town.

KAAT_LADY

I have only seen a couple this year and that was quite a while ago, they may come with the sun whenever that comes to s tay, just for a little while.

squiggle37

i not noticed many about saw a lovely light blue one wings were nearly transparent that was weeks ago, plenty of moths about tho.

SKIPPY54

Just seen the one to-day a cabbage white, we have just had a good couple of days weather wise but they are still not showing.
It's not as though I live in a town,the houses around have large gardens,and not too many have had the make over bug so lots of grass and trees and surounded by woods and fields.

The farmers are not to blame around here as the land is water catchment so no nasty pesticides allowed to be sprayed.

I just hope they make a late showing,I'm at a loss what is happening to them.

KAAT_LADY

I still havent seen any butterflies I was thinking are they endangered and like the bees should we plant things for them,,,,,,, like ???
has anyone any ideas??

Larumbelle

In my garden they adore the buddleja and honeysuckle. I think having a slightly 'messy' garden helps them - if your garden is too well-maintained there's no food, nowhere to hatch the caterpillars and nowhere for the chrysalises (is that even a word?) to go. I've not seen as many this year as normal and I can't help but wonder if it has anything to do with the trend for decked, gravelled, 'minimalist' gardens that seem to have replaced the cottage-style garden round here.